=P i's a Secret... going back t HOW often have we asked ourselves, at some point in our lives, if we would do Graham Hookey things differently if we had the chance to do it al! again? [often watch as students enter the school for a new . Suagested retail ENTIRE ST CK KIDZ BIZ ¢ KIDZ Biz ° KIDZ BIZ « KIDZ Biz © Biz =| m Ie a 4 . i nN ts iM =] Fv *. N -) N i= ae ‘ho peg 4 IN [=] x . Bat C) N OQ Fv _* A Ey IN = ae ° a <=) 8 ms ° psi a N S Se e N rj IN 8 32 north shore news vear with fresh faces, tidy clothes and spanking new school supplies, and reflect on my own memories of going back to school, ft leads me inevitably to that question, The short answer is no. A self-contessed school lover, I found the summers way Too long, way too fonely and way too dull. Perhaps it was the socio- economic status of my family which put three meals on the table, a roof aver our heads, and decent clothing on our backs but not much for entertainment. A Sunday ice cream cone was pretty much the highlight of a summer's Me. Snappy siys... Ive got nity Pokémon! week. Going back to school was a Messing of activities, sports and friends. Sure [ pretended it was a pain, bat that was just for dramatic impact, leveraging for an extra shirt or binder if f could convince my mom T was really hard done by. Rarely worked, but you've got to try. The first day of school, followed by the first after- noon of football practice was like an oasis in the sea of boredom. There were new teachers to size up, new sub- vise schemes of minimizing effort in, and new classmates who might have something new to offer, especially if they were of the Opposite SCX. Would J change anything? You've got to be kidding — those were the good old days. Just the same, if E really think about it, there are things | would have changed. 1 would have lis- tened a fot more in English and perhaps become a much better writer. (Sorry readers!) I would have been kinder to some of the people [ignored ate eee TUESDAY Tales for Twos: Half-hour of stories, songs and puppetry. Children must be accompa- nied by a parent or caregiver. Tuesdays, Sept. 7-28 at 10:30 am. or Thursdays, Sept. 8-30 at 10:30 a.m., Wese Van Memorial Library. Pre-regis- ter: 925-7408. How To Get Better Grades Attend our Open House Saturday, September 1.1, ARENTAL GUIDANCE schi or even worse, overtly excluded. T would have been a fot less anxious to have a girl- friend and a dot more anx- ious to have a lot of rriends whe were girls, | would have showered after every gym class, which, of course, might have resulted in having more friends who were girls. 1 would have trained harder for track and field. 1 would have taken more music and drama options. I would have taken myselfa little less seriously at times and a little more seriously ac other times. I speak to my sons now and then abour n experiences and they roll their eyes in typically adoles- fashion. They too seem to like school, since living in a home with an overzealous teacher is infinitely more threatening than being ina building with hundreds of others who command the teachers’ attention. But fike I had to do, they have to live their own school lives | in their own way, mak- ng their own mistakes, in School: Suitable tor Grades 4 to 12. Tuesday, Sept. i4, 7-9:30 p.m., Lucas Centre. $39 for the whole family. Register early as this seminar scils out quickly. Register: 986-8888. International Fairytale and Craft: For 6- to 9-ycar-olds at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the North Van City Library. The featured country this month is Brazil. Pre-reg- ister: 980-4424, Library Club meets every three weeks for Grades 4-6 at the North Van City Library. This month’s meeting ts- Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 3:45 p.m. Pre-register: 980-4424. Drop-in Babes Storytime: For 0-24 months at the North Van City Library. Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Info: 980-4424. WEDNESDAYS Seymour Community Services: Weekly parent and child drop-in for 0-5 years. Coffee, play and- parenting discussions. Tuesdays at 6:30- 8 p.m., and Wednesdays at 9:30-11 am., 1055 Premier was fun achieving their own successes and perhaps 30 vears from now, reflecting on their experiences with the wisdom gained from lite after school- ing is done. School is not about the theory of life, it’s about liv- ing. It’s about meeting new people, adapting to new sitt- ations, experimenting with new opportunities and find- ing vour own path from 3 myriad of possible paths in the fucure. The key factor to enjoy- ing school is to inimerse oneself in the whole atmos- phere. Get to know the teachers, get to know the other kids, get involved in sports, arts and student activities. That's what school is really about -~- living lite to its fullest at this particular stage of life. Oh yes, if L could do it again I would, probably making different mistakes than last time, but having the time of my life all the while. — Graham Hookey is the author of Parenting Is ‘A Team Sport; , St., N.V. Info: Sue McDonald at 983-6700. Drop-in Storytime Fun: Fo: 3-5-vear-olds. Wednesdays, at 10:30 am. and 1:30 p.m., West Van Memorial . Library. Info: 925-7408. Junior Stamp Club: For Grades 4-6 at 3:30 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. This months mecting is Sept. 8 at the North Van City Library. Pre-register: 980-4424. Drop-in Toddlers Storytime: For 2-3-year-olds. at the North Van City Library. Wednesday and Friday at 10 am. or 1) a.m. Info: 980- 4424, THURSDAYS Kindergarten Storytime: For 4-6-ycar-olds at_ the North Van City Library. Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. o7 1:30 p.m. A six-week series com- mences Thursday, Sept. 16. - Pre-register: 980- 4424, International Fairytale and Craft: For 6-9-ycar-olds at ' 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. See: more page 38 li am - 2 pm and see our vision of providing an environment that fosters your child's natural love of learning. North Star Montessori Elementary Scheoi ¢ Girls & Boys Pre School / Kindertap / Ballet R.A.D. Exams & Vaganova . ¢ Contemporary v Jazz & Tap ¥ Hip Hop for girls & boys . / Adult Ballet & Contemporary ‘Jv Yoga ¢ NEW! PROFESSIONAL: TRAINING PROGRAM + JUNIOR & SEKIOR PERFORMING GROUPS Fall Registration is ongoing 9:00 am - 7:30 pm 209 West 13th Street, North Vancouver Phone: 980-1205 1457 Marine Drive West Vancouver “www. annawyman. COM ; ait ows Sr or: